The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-06-04
HOWARD'S LETTER,
AN oBsERVANT STROLL FRoMTHE
BATTERY TO CENTRAL PARK.
The Changes Wrought by Tims-LAnd-
marks Of tho Past-some Strange Trans
formations That Have Been Effected by
the N~sysr-endIps Push Of Trade,

marks o. the Strange trans
formations That Have Been Injected by
the N~eysr-endipg Push Of Trade,
New York Is at all times interesting,
No city IN the world has so magnificent
an approach, The bay and harbor Of
New York are monumental fortheir con-
Yeniences, their safety and their beauty.
Across them in these days of intense heat
sweep refreshing breezes and healthful
winds, We land, say at South Ferry,
and are confronted Immediately by the
recently, completed stone barge-house,
by the government for the con-
yenience Of the oustom,house inspectors.
To the left Of II stands Castle Garden,
for many years has been utilized
tho commissioners Of emigration as a
landing rlace for immigrants, assisted"
and otherwise,
There Is no need to go back to the
days Of my boyhood when Grisl, Mario,
Julian and Herr Kenig, the king Of cor
netlsts, to whom Levy Is just this side
Of q twin brother, were In their prime;
nor yet further back when the old,time
castle was separated from the island by
a rushing, streaming, tumultuous tide,
and when It was garrisoned by troops OF
regulars, and made formidable by the
possible armament known to
the early days Of this century. It forms
now part and parcel Of the Battery, and
upon an area which in early days was
frlnged upon the north by stately resi-
dences, the handsomest in the New York
Of olden time, There our fathers and
forefathers walked and talked, made love
and fought, inhaled the salt breeze from
the billowy waves that broke upon the
sandy beach, and found, after days Of
Iaberioas industry, "way up.towni'' as far
as John, Cortland and Fulton streets, the
restful calm and peaceful repose Of the
early evening hour.
To-day q large part OF 1t Is occupied
by the hideous az" road structure, upon
which are depots for cars, machine shops,
signal towers, places for llnemen and
watchmen, resting benches for con.
ductors and brakemcn and enormous de-.
pots or platforms for the convenience Of
the scores Of thousands of passengers
who hurry, scurry, and skedaddle up and
down and all around from six o'clock In
the morning until long past midnight.
The Battery Of old is gone. The Battery
Of to-day Is a loafng place for
tramps; aseries Of beats for pickpockets,
thieves and loafers Of every description;
the wonderland OF the fr%eshly.arriyed
emigrants, and a harvest field for the run
ners and bloodsuckers who lle in wait
for them. Its magnificent residences are
.alsothings ofthe past to a largeextent. A
few Of them remain, used by sixth-rate
boarding house keepers, but the sites OF
nearly all arc occupied by gin mills,
warehouses, steamship offices, with now
and then o doctors shop. On tho Bat
terry corner formerly stood the Wash
ington House, famed in local history as
the mansion where at one time the
father Of his country had his headquar-
tiers. or late years II was q third.class
hotel. Some time ago Cyrus w. Field.
purchased II, pulled it down. and has
now built in its place n Of the most re-
markable buildings In this city, which is
raradly becoming noted for remarkable
buildings.
Between Battery corner and White
hall street, which leads directly TO South
Ferry, Is o row OF old.time residences,
once occupied by the elite OF the city.
Each 10 now rented 10 q foreign steam
ship company, and in some Of them
foreign coHsulates have their official
habitation. On tho other side OF White
hall street Is about finished the largest
ediiice In tho city devoted to mercantile
purposes. 1t belongs to the Produce
Exchange and has been thrown open TO.
that noisy and money.making body.
Immediately in front of the line Of.
residences referred to Is the old-time
Bowling Green. When l was o boy there
problem. There was o time when the
City Hall Park was graced, beauti-
fed and freshened by continuously
running fountains. There arc two foun.
tains In II now. In one the water is
never turned on. In the other the water
was never turned on. The latter cost
the city during tho Tweed ring some.
thing like $4,000, and Is as dry and
barren to-day as II was when the stone
was first hauled here from the granite
quarry. There are some beautiful trees
In the park and o few insufficient benches,
but 1t Is not a place for popular resort,
and hasn't q single convenience or com.
fort or aid to refreshment, save here and.
there q halfway drinking fountain for
people who are willing TO run the risk Of
lip disease by drinking from cups which
are never clean and arc generally nasty.
On we go uptown along the sun.baked
WuI u lUNIetl statue OF .4IVerty there
placed upon q pedestal formerly graced
ny " lulllGuSth ptutuS VI NthCVh AAih VI
George III, 1don't know which. Ineyer,
saw Il, and l have forgotten whether II
was the King or the Queen. In one Of
tho stormy periods II was yanked from
It's pedestal by exuberant patriots, and,
after a battle or so, when the war OF the
Revolution was decided in favor Of the
colonists, q Liberty statue was erected In
its place. There are, as In the Battery,
a few benches In this %old.fashioned spot.
AS / passed II to-day every seat was
occupied by a male or female, and every
occupant was fast asleep. The trees arc
.gracfously permitted 10 grow there,
thoughprccfsoly why the hand OF the icon.
oelaSt Did not long since swing the ok
10 fell them Is q conundrIm which mod.
crn writers will find II difficult 10 an.
swer. Not q tree can DO found between
that spot and the City Hall Park, with
tho exception OF those which ornament
the graveyard and shelter the tombs In
the Enclosure belonging 10 Trinity
Church at the head Of Wall street.
Herewo arc at St Paul's Church, the
head OF Fulton street, Immediately oppo.
site tho Herald Office and In tho triangle
bounded by tho postollcc, tho Aston
House and q row Of insignificant build.
lngs at the corner OF Park Row and Ann
al Snnt What Ia khaan tutth thn awaaOktna